South Huron District - Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario

Supported Programs

Masonic Foundation of Ontario

The Masonic Foundation of Ontario is a registered charitable organization that funds one-time and ongoing projects to benfit the community. The Foundation receiveds gifts and bequests from lodges, individual Masons and others who which to share in its work. It was founded in 1964 by the Grand Lodge as a means of extending Masonic charity beyond helping members and their families.

District Charity Project

Grand Masters Project

MasoniCh.I.P.

The MasoniCh.I.P. program uses modern police approved techniques to create a child identification kit for the ones you love.

This information is matched to work seamlessly with Ontario's law enforcement providers. By being so compatible, the critical identifying information can be broadcast and shared more quickly than ever before to assist with the safe recovery of missing children.

The MasoniCh.I.P. program is brought to familes by dedicated Masons and their volunteers, free of charge along with our sentiment that "We hope you never need to use it."

Canadian Blood Services

As it can often take more than one donor to save a life, Partners for Life brings people together with the common goal of supporting the most vulernable people in our communities. Together, people unite to help raise awareness, donate blood or plasma, or support the stem cell or organ donation registries.

Partners for Life ID

MASO011686

Making Good Men Better

Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Its members share a common goal of helping each other become better men. Its body of knowledge and system of ethics is based on the beleif that each man has a responsibility to improve himself while being devoced to his family, faith, country, and fraternity.

Its roots go back centuries and its members are diverse: hi profile leaders, physicians, construction workers, farmers ... and maybe you.

Ancient ... and Modern

We're united by three ancient and fundamental principles - bortherly love, charity and truth - that are made relevant to the 21^st century through the personal development, good works and social connections available to our members in the 550+ lodges across Ontario.

Great Benefits ... for You and the World

Freemasonry offers much to its members - the opportunity to grow, the chance to make a difference and the means to build a better world for our children. It offers the chance to socialize and work with men who have the same values and ideals.

We strengthen and improve our character by learning and practicing basic virtues of fraternal love, charity and truth. Our principles extend far beyond our interactions with each other, and we strive to apply them to our daily lives.

Masons participate in three progressive degrees, each one teaching an important lesson through the use of symbols. The degrees help a Mason think about the big questions: Where did I come from? What am I doing here? And what comes next?

Masons are spiritual and moral men who choose to associate with groups of like-minded individuals for mutual benefit. What they find in Freemasonry is a disciplined and systematic course of self-improvement base on the Golden Rule: always do to others what you would like them to do to you.

There are 3.2 million masons across the world and more than 40,000 in Ontario

Everyone is welcome, regardless of race, colour or creed

Masons are spiritual and moral people, but there's no room for discussion of sectarian religion or partisan politics in freemasonry. Members are free to follow their own path, as long as it fits with the ethical principles of integrity and virtue symbolized by the sqaure and the compasses - the icon symbols commonly associated with Masonry.

Masonry stresses the principles of kindness and consideration at home, honesty in business, courtesy towards others, dependability in one's work, compassion for the less fortunate and being a good citizen of the world. Masonry recognizes that each man has obligations to his family, his work, his religious beleifs, his community and himself - these must take priority and Masonry does not interfere with his ability to meet these obiligations.

A lodge is not a building ... it's the men that form it

The foundation of the Masonic family is the Masonic lodge. It is here that Masonry teaches its lessons: kindness in the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society, fairness at work, concern for the unfortunate and respect for one another. Most lodges are clearly signed and located on main streets in communities small and large across the globe.

With over 550 lodges in Ontario, there should be a lodge that meets in a location near you.

Masonry is not a secret society ... we're happy to share what we know

Any information about Masons can be found at a well-stocked bookstore or local library. Masonic buildings are clearly marked and listed in the phonebook and members often identify themselves wearing Masonic jewelery.

The so-called Masonic "Secrets" are confined to modes of recognition by which a visitor can prove himeslft to be a Mason and thereby become eligible to enter a lodge in which he was otherwise not known.

The Extended Masonic Family

A Mason can choose to broaden and deepen his experience of Masonry by participating in other branches of the Masonic family: the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners and Knights Templar.

Masonry is for men ... but it's a family affair

Women, girls and boys who share Masonic values are welcome to participate in the many social and charitable events hosted by lodges. But there are affiliate organizations for those looking for ways to become formally involved. Young men can join DeMolay, young women can join the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and Job's Daughters International.

Masonry is first and foremost a fraternity rather than a service organization, social club or benevolent society. However, charity in the form of helping other poeple, is considered to be a cornerstone of the fraternity.

Masons are encouraged to be actively involved in their communities. Some of the community outreach programs that Masons are actively involved with are listed below:

The Masonic Foundation of Ontario, a public charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, support hearing research, a bursary program for university and college students, autism services, prostate cancer research and alcohol and drug awareness programs in elementary and high schools.
The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario sponsors the MasoniCh.I.P. child identification program.
And we're not above bleeding for a cause - every year, Ontario Masons support Canadian Blood Services donor program with approximately 35,000 donations.
Shriners operate the largest network of hospitals in North America providing free care for burned and orthopaedically impaired children.
The Scottish Rite Masons maintain a network of some 150 childhood language disorder clinics, centers and programs.

Inidvidual districts support their own charitable projects.

Masonry offers the opportunity to make each man better through its teachings, his Masonic associations and philosophy that has served the social needs of men for centuries, by promoting:

Tradition: when you become a Mason, you become part of ancient tradition that spans centruies. From the original stonemasons that produced some of the most majestic architectural wonders of Europe to modern day Masons who participate in number charitable foundations, you'll fell connected to a vital, growing and spiritually uplifting organization for moral men;
Self Improvement: learning portions of the Ritual and participating in the Degree stimulates the mind and, coupled with committee work and lodge management, presents the opportunity to develop leadership and organization skills, build self-discipline through commitment, poise and self-confidence, and strengthen presentation and public speaking proficiencies;
Sense of Accomplishment: participating in lodge projects, be they charitable or social in nature, provides the opportunity to contribute, work with others and enjoy the success of effort well expended;
Fellowship - Belonging to a Like-minded Group: the modern work environment has reduced or eliminated social association with co-workers; joining with lodge members in a fraternal atmosphere can substitute for that former worksplace fellowhip lost;
A Break from the Workday Routine: Masonry brings together in lodge men of diverse backgrounds, where the daily pressures of a career can be left outside the door and where fellowship is the common theme.

These attributes are summarized in the tenets, or fundamental principles of Ancient Freemasonry: Brotherly Love; Relief; and Truth. If these values address your needs. Masonry welcomes you.

Supported Programs

Masonic Foundation of Ontario

District Charity Project

MasoniCh.I.P.

Canadian Blood Services

Partners for Life ID

MASO011686

District Lodges

Grand Lodge Officers

M.W. Bro. Thomas W. Hogeboom

R.W. Bro. Jamie Ireland

R.W. Bro. Michael Stilwell

M.W. Bro. Garry Dowling

V.W. Bro. Leroy Harrison

District Officers

Nomination Pending

Nomination Pending

W. Bro. Floyd Upshall

R.W. Bro. Stephen Hearn

TBD

V.W. Bro. Wes Morley

V.W. Bro. Leroy Harrison

V.W. Bro. Glen Miller

R.W. Bro. Doug Stewart

W. Bro. John Miners

Our Purpose